Means for successively exhibiting groups of signs



F. FRYE Jan. 5, 1932.

MEANS FOR SUCCESSIVELY EXHIBITING GROUPS OF SIGNS Filed May 4. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jan. 5, 1932.

F. FRYE MEANS FOR SUCCESSIVELY EXHIBITING GROUPS OF SIGNS Filed May 4, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Fran/(Frye ATT EY Jan. 5, 1932. 1,839,545

MEANS FOR SUGCESSIVELY EXHIBITING GROUPS OF SIGNS F. FRYE Filed May 4, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Zr" nd F2" ATTO% Jan. 5, 1932. F. FRYE 1,839,545

MEANS FQR SUCCESSIVEL'; EXHIBITING GROUPS OF SIGNS Filed ma 4. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK FR'YE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN MEANS FOR SUCCESSIVELY EXHIBITING- GROUPS F SIGNS Application filed. May 4, 1927. Serial No.-188,708.

and for selecting the desired one of a series of such groups.

In the. illustrated embodiment, I have shown, as an example, a group of signs, each bearing the name of a street'or streets, ar-

ranged so'that they will automatically be exhibited in proper sequence to project on a suitable screen the names of the, streets about to be passed by a street car or other vehicle. Then, as a street car may be used on any one of a number of routes, means .are'provided forselecting any one of a series of groups bearing in rotation the names of the streets passed on the desired route. One of the objects of my invention is the provision of such means for selecting. a certain one of a series of groups of signals at the will of the operator, and thereafter feeding the individual signals of the group in proper sequence at predetermined intervals.

Another object of this invention is theprovision of means for automatically feeding the several signals of a group for projection on the screen.

A further object of my invention is the arrangement of such feeding means whereby the several signals of a group may begfed alternately in' reverse order, or may be continuously rotated in the same order, at the i will of the operator.

. A further object of this invention is the provision of means for retaining a signal change contact until the change is completed regardless of how short the. time interval of the original contact energizing the, mechanism for such change.

Afurther object of my invention is the arrangement of means for interrupting the circuit for illuminating the projector during a signal change.

The above and other objects will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure l-is a plan View of the feedingand projecting mechanism for successively exhibiting. the signs of any group.

Figure 2 is a front-elevation thereof.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail plan view of the forward extremity of my improved feeding mechanism, arranged to feed the signs in one direction, the projecting mechanism -being vomitted.

Figure 4 is a similar view of the feeding mechanism arranged to feed the signs in the reverse direction.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail side elevation of one corner-of the guide frame for the signal slides and mechanism for shifting one signal at a time before the projector.

Figure 6 is a detail plan view of one side portion of the adjustable frame for groups of signals. V

Figure 7 is .a detail cross section taken substantially on the lines 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detailsection taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 6, but showmg only one of the telescoping members.

Figure 9 is a detail section taken substanutilized in ad'vancing the signals before the projector, and V Figure 12.is a diagrammatieview of the electrical mechanism utilized for selecting one of aseries of groups of signals and for electrically controlling the successive changesof signals before the projector.

Referring nowto' the drawings, the numeral-2 designates a frame for supporting the exhibiting mechanism and for supportingand guiding the several signals to beexhibited. As herein shown, the frame is composed of side angle irons 3 telescopically mounted'for adjustment of thelength of the frame, and with cross bars 4 connecting the angle irons. Suitably supported upon the frame is a projecting mechanism arranged to project -an image from the several signals herein shown as stereopticon slides 5 on to on r a screen 6 by means of a lamp 7, reflector 8, m0

tervals, as hereinafter described, and driving condenser lenses 9, and projector lenses 10. The several slides 5 are stored on either side of the projecting mechanism and are successively brought between the condenser lenses 9 and projector lenses 10 by the motor driven mechanism hereinafter described.

The feeding mechanism herein shown for successively advancing the slides 5 into position for projection comprises a motor 11 adapted to be energized at predetermined ina worm pinion 12 meshing with a worm gear 13 mounted on a stub shaft 14 also bearing a pinion 15 meshing with a gear 16 aiiixedtothe telescopic shaft 17. This reduction gearing permits the rapid rotation ,of the motor with a comparatively slow movement of the slides. Eccentrically mounted upon the gear 16 is a pin'18 on which is pivotally mounted one extremity of a link 19, the other extremity of which is pivotally connected with a post 20 fixed upon a traveller bar 21 at the opposite extremities of which are pivotally mounted a pair of latches 22 (note Figures 3 and 11). The rotation of the gear 16 will serve to reciprocate the traveller bar 21, and this reciprocating movement is utilized to move the foremost slide 5 from thealigned slides at one side of the projector mechanism to in front of the condenser lenses 9 on one revolution. Then the traveller bar returns to pick up the next slide of the series (which has been forced into the foremost position) and on the next revolution of the gear 16 this latter slide is then moved into position before the condenser lenses 9, forcing the first mentioned slide away from in front a of the condenser lenses and into alignment with the slides on the opposite side of the projecting mechanism.- To insure correct alignment of the slides on both sides of the projecting mechanism, 1 provide shoes 23a and 23?) at the ends of the right and left hand stacks of slides and position them for both maintaining the bunched or stacked relation of the several slides and for guiding the slide moving from in front of the condenser lenses into alignment with the other slides in the opposite stack. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, one of the shoes, as 236 in Fig. 4, is set at a distance in front of the other shoe, as 23a, equal to the thickness of one of the slides 5. This'places the inner shoe 23a so that it aids in bunching the stacked slides on theright side so that they are in position for receiving another slide, which is slid into correct position first by the beveled toe of the shoe and lastly by the substantially rigid heel portion of the shoe. The shoes 23a, 23?) are pivotally mounted upon pins 24 extending through apertures in a bracket 25 on the shoe, providing a pivot for the shoe remote from the toe portion. A spring pressure is also provided to force the toe portion of the shoes toward the stacked .and the adjacent face of the bracket 29, surrounding thepin 27. Each bracket 25 on the heel'portionof the shoe is connected by its plvot pin 24 with oneextremity of a link '31, the opposite extremity of which is pivotally mounted uponthe bracket 29. By rocking the link 31 until it is at substantially right angl-es'to the heel portion of the shoe, as shown at the right in- Fig. 4, the heel portlon is moved inwardly'a distance differing from the position assumed by the heel portion when the link 31 is obliquely arranged relatively to the heel portion, as shown at the left 111 F gure 4, by the thickness of a slide 5. The pivot pins 24 joining the links 31 with the brackets 25 of the shoes at each end of the frame 2 are preferably connectedtogether, as by means of a cross bar 32, so that when the cross bar 32 is moved laterally both of the links 31 will'be moved to their opposite extreme posltions, thereby moving inwardlythe shoe, as 236, that had previously been utilized only for compressing its stack of slides, while the shoe, as 23a, previously used for guiding oncoming slides, is moved outwardly to a position where itis out of the path of the lateral travel of the slides. This constitutes a reversing mechanism, whereby the slides previously fed from, say, the left hand stack to the right hand stack, as in Figure 4, will now be fed from the right hand stack to the left hand stack of slides, as shown in Figure 3. In this reversed position, the latch 22 at the opposite extremity of the traveller bar 21 will be utilized to engage the side edge of the foremost slideof the adjacent stack and move it to a position before the condenser lenses 9 while the latch 22, previously used for advancing the slides from the other stack, will now be idle, and

will remain so until the reversing mechanism is again moved to feed the slides from th stacks as at first described.

The mechanism above described in connection with the forward extremity of the stacks of slides is duplicated at the rear extremity thereof, only the positions of the of one stack being moved to the other stack while the rea rmost slide of the second stack ismoved over to therearz of the first stack.

-' Accordingly, there is substantially uniform compression upon the end slides ofthe stacks, and light springs will serve to supply the requisite pressure to insure uniform movement of the slides. It isto be noted that the face of the shoes 23 adjacent the slides are cut away except at their upper and lower edges to supply means for engaging only the upper and lower portions of the several slides, and thereby preserving the film or other transparent or translucent central portions of the slides carying the legends to be exhibited.

"To enable the introduction of additional slides, to the stacks, or to reduce the number ready adjustment of the frame members, and

any desired adjustment can be maintained by securing tie-bolts 36 between the cross bars 4 at the ends of the frame. The shaft 17 connecting the gear 16 with the crank member 16a for operating the traveller bar at the rear extremity of the slide stacks should also be a telescoping one so that the simultaneous transfer of the endmost slides will be made at each end of the stack regardless ofthe number of slides in'each stack.

From the above it will be apparent-that I can move the foremost slide from either the left or right hand stack to a position before the condenser lenses 9 of the projector mechanism to thereby project its legend onto the screen 6, then move the following slide 1n position to be projected, meanwhlle forcing the slide just projected on to the opposite stack. Simultaneously the .rearmost slide of the second stack is similarly moved on to the rear of the first stack to maintain the number of slides in each stack constant. These slides may bear legends such as the names of streets, or advertisements, warnings, announcements, etc. Supposing for example, that the slides illustrated in Figure 1 bear legends showing the names of streets in proper sequence on several street car routes in a' large city. YVith the frame and slides 1 I properly mounted on the street car,-tne sides bearing the names of the streets on any de sired route wlll be successively brought into position as the car travels over its route 1n one direction. Then, the reversmg mechanism is thrown to alter the positions of the shoes 23a and 23b, whereupon the same slides will be moved into position for projection in reverse order. lVhen, however, it is desired to move that street car on to a difierentroute, it is necessary to preliminarily position the slides so that the first slide of the new route is at the foremost end ofa stack of slides. One way of accomplishing this is diagrammaticallyillustrated in Figure 12, wherein the manual rotation of the route sign 37 is utilized for positioning the initial-slide of the desired route. On the route sign 37 is positioned a plurality of metallic bridge 7 strips 38, 39, .adapted to contact adjacent pairs of contact fingers 40 and 41. Bridge strips 38 may be considered as starting strips, i. e. they energize the motor 11 to move the slides from one stack to the other until the desired initial slide of the new route is properly positioned. This is determined by the bridge strips 39, which may be termed stop strips, in combination with upwardly projecting metallic contact members 42 carried upon the initial slides 5 of each route. Accordingly as the motor is set in motion through the starting strip 38, it continues to move slides from one stack to the other until such time as both the bridge strip 39, which is manually set by properly positioning the route sign 37, and the upwardly projecting contact 42 of the proper slide are in series with each other, as shown in Figure 12. The motor is then stopped, and the initial slide on the new route remains at the foremost position of the desired stack until the motor is again set in motion, as by closing of its circuit through engagement of a moving contact 43 mounted on the street car adjacent its trolley pole with a stationary contact 44 carried adjacent the trolley wire 45 at, say, a half block ahead of the street whose name is carried by the initial slide of that route. When the moving contact 43 engages the stationary contact 44, the circuitis closed through the relay magnet 13 to lift the double arm switch 46, whereupon the current from the trolley wire may pass through the Wire 47 ,resistance 48, lower arm of the switch 46, and wire 49 into the motor 11, emerging through wire 50 into a suitable ground. The rotation of the motor 11 turns the gear 16 until its radially projecting contact 165 engages the stationary leaf spring contact 51,

which is connected through the lower arm of the double arm switch 52 of the relay magnet A whenever such arm is in its lowered position. The lower switch arm of the switch 52 is also connected by the wire 53 with one side of the relay magnet 13, the other side of which is connected with a suitable ground. Also the opposite side of the gear 16 is grounded, as by the wire 54. Accordingly when the radially projecting contact 1% en- "too the leaf spring contact 51. From the above .it will be apparent that the motor will be energized whenever a stationary contact 44 is engaged by theniovable contact 48 carried by the street car, and even though such contact be momentary, it will be suiiicient to lift the double arm switch 46 to permit the continued energization of the motor until a substantially full revolution has been made by the gear 16. Then the circuit to the motor is automatically broken. By placing the stationary contacts 44 a suitable distance in ad" Vance of the reaching of each street, the motor will be energized in time to project tho name of the street on to the screen 6 as an announcement to the passengers.

Means are also provided for extinguishing the lamp 7 during the operation of the motor 11. One side of the lamp 7 is connected with a suitable ground, as by wire 55, while the other side of the lamp is connected, as by the wire 55, with the lower arm of the double switch arm 46 when such arm is in its normal or lowered position. In other words, the current to the lamp passes from the wire 47 through the lower arm of the switch 46, and wire 56, to the lamp at all times except when the switch 46 is raised by the energization of relay magnet B to energize the motor 11. Accordingly the light 7 is extinguished while a slide is being moved into position for projection, then after the slide has been suitably positioned the relay magnet is automatically deenergized, permittin the switch arm 46 to fall and restore the circuit for illuminating the lamp 7 i To enable the rapid transfer of slides from one stack to another, when it is desired to change the car from one route to another, 1 preferably provide a relay magnet A controlling the double arm switch 52, whereby the lower arm of such switch 52 is moved out of engagement with the leaf spring contact 51 to prevent deenergization of the motor each time the spur 16B engages contact 51. The energization of the magnet A is controlled by the starting bridge contact 58 passing between the wire 47 A, joining wire 47 with contact 4713 and one of the contacts 40, which is joined, as by the wire 57 with one side of the magnet A, the other side of such magnet being grounded as by the wire 58. The energization of the magnet A serves to lift the double arm switch 52, breaking the contact with the leaf spring 51 and permitting the passage of current through wire 57 to wire 53 to energize the magnet B and lift its double arm switch 46, whereupon the current can flow directly through wire 47, switch 46, and wire 49, to the motor 11. The motor continues to rotate without having its current broken by engagementof its spur contact 16B with the leaf spring contact 51 until the proper stop bridge contact 59 and upwardly projecting contact 42 on the proper slide 5 has been reached, whereupon the current is grounded through the slide, shorting the relay magnet switch 52 I to again engage the leaf spring contact 51. Then when the spur contact 16B on the gear 16 again reaches the spring contact 51, both sides of the magnet B are grounded, as herein above described. The new route slides are now in position for successive projection in accordance with the intermittent energization of the motor 11 by engagement with the movable contact 43 on the trolley with the suitably positioned stationary contacts 44 along the route travelled by the car.

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiments of my invention herein disclosedare well calculated to adequately fulfill the objects and advantages primarily stated, it is to'beunderstood that the invention is susceptible. to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

.l-Iaving described my invention, I claim: 1. Means for successively exhibiting a plurality of signs including a frame, a projecting mechanism arranged substantially centrally of the frame, a stack of signs arranged on each side of the projecting mechanism, means for moving the foremost sign from either stack into position for projection and then onto the other stack, including a traveller bar mounted to reciprocate across the frame and having a pair of latches at its opposite ends arranged whereby one of the latches will engage the foremost sign of one of said stacks, means for reciprocating the traveller bar whenever desired, means for compressing the signs in the stacks so that the foremost sign on one stack extends forwardly beyond the foremost sign of the other stack and in to the path of movement of one of the latches of the traveller bar, means for transferring the rearmost sign from the second stack to the first stack simultaneously with the transfer of the foremost sign of the first stack onto the second stack, and means for reversing the positions of the foremost signs of the stacks to permit the signs from the second stack to be transferred onto the first stack through engagement with the other latch of the traveller bar.

2. In a device of the character described, a frame, projecting mechanism arranged substantially centrally of the frame, a pair of stacks of signs arranged at the sides of the projecting mechanism, means for simultaneously transferring the foremost sign of one stack and the rearmost sign of the other staclronto the opposite stacks to maintain constant the number of signs in each stack, the path of movement of the transferred signs at one end of the stacks being past the projecting mechanism, including reciprocable traveller bars adjacent the opposite ends of the stacks and having latches at their opposite extremities, means for simultaneously reciprocating the traveller bars, means for arranging the sign stacks whereby the foremost sign of one stack and the rearmost sign of the other stack will be within the path of movement of a latch on the adjacent traveller bar, and means for reversing the positions of the sign stacks to bring the foremost sign of the second stack and the rearmost sign of the first stack into the path of movement of the opposite latches on the respective traveller bars.

3. In a device of the character described, a frame, projecting mechanism arranged substantially centrally of the frame, a pair of stacks of signs arranged at the sides of the projecting mechanism, means for simultaneously transferring the foremost sign of one stack and the rearmost sign of the other stack onto the opposite stacks to maintain constant the number of signs in each stack, the path of movement of the transferred signs at one end of the stacks being past the projecting mechanism, pivoted shoes arranged to compress the signs in each stack and to guide the transferred signs in their movement from one stack to the other, and springs urging the shoes into substantially constant engagement with the stacks.

4. In a device of the character described, a frame, projecting mechanism arranged substantially centrally of the frame, a pair of stacks of signs arranged at the sides of the projecting mechanism, means for simultaneously transferring the foremost sign of one stack and the rearmost sign of the other stack onto the opposite stacks to maintain constant the number of signs in each stack, the path of movement of the transferred signs at one end of the stacks being past the projecting mechanism, including reciprocable traveller bars adjacent the opposite ends of the stacks and having latches at their opposite extremities, means for simultaneously reciprocating the traveller bars, and means for arranging the sign stacks whereby the foremost sign of one stack and the rearmost sign of the other stack will be within the path of movement of a latch on the adjacent traveller bar, including shoes engaging the endmost signs of each stack and arranged to compress the signs in each stack and guide the transferred signs in their passage from one stack to the other.

5. In a device of the character described, projecting mechanism including an electric lamp, and a lens, a plurality of groups of signs arranged in a pair of stacks positioned one on each side of a projecting mechanism, metal bridge contacts carried by the foremost signs of each group, means controlled by a bridge contact for transferring the foremost sign of either stack into position for projec-' tion, and then onto the other stack, includof either stack into position for projection,

and then onto the other stack, including'a motor, means for intermittently energizing the motor to transfer the foremost sign of one stack into position for projection, and means set in motion by the energized motor for deenergizing the motor after such move ment of the foremost sign.

7; In a device of the character described,

projecting mechanism including an electric lamp, and a lens, a plurality of groups of signs arranged in a pair of stacks positioned one on each side of the projecting mechanism, metal bridge contacts carried by the foremost signs of each group, means for transferring the foremost sign of either stack into position for projection, and then onto the other stack, including a motor, means for intermittently energizing the motor to transfer the foremost sign of one stack into position for projection, means for extinguishing said lamp during the operation of the motor, means for automatically deenergizing the motor after such movement of the foremost sign, and means for preventing the operation of said deenergizing means until the foremost sign of a desired group has reached the position of the foremost sign of one of the stacks.

8. In a device of the character described, a frame, projecting mechanism arranged substantially centrally of the frame, a pair of stacks of signs arranged at the sides of the projecting mechanism, means for simultaneously transferring the foremost sign of one stack and the rearmost sign of the other stack onto the opposite stacks to maintain constant the number of signs in each stack, and means for guiding and positioning the transferred signs, including a pair of shoes pivotally mounted adjacent the ends of the stacks having inwardly extending inclined edges against one of which the transferred signs engage as they approach the receiving stack, and springs urging the shoes into substantially constant engagement with the stacks.

9. In a device of the character described, a frame, projecting mechanism arranged substantially centrally of the frame, apair of stacks of signs arranged at the sides of the projecting mechanism, means for simultaneously transferring the foremost sign of one stack and the 'rearmost sign of the other stack onto the opposite stacks to maintain eonstant the number of signs in each stack,

and means for guiding and positioning the transferred signs, including a pairv ofshoes pivotally mounted adjacent the ends of the stacks and having inwardly extending inclined edges, means for positioning the shoes whereby the shoes adjacent the receiving stacks are closer to the signs than the shoes adjacent the stacks from which the signs are transferred, and means for reversing the positionsof the shoes relatively to the stacks.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand.

FRANK FRYE. 

